Zhang Zhonghe, Gao Yue, Lin Xiangtao, He Xue, Wang Ximing, Liu Shuwei
From the Department of Medical Imaging (Z.Z., X.W.), Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
Department of Radiology (Y.G.), Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Dezhou Hospital, Dezhou, China.
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2025 May 2;46(5):1029-1035. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A8595.
The 10th week of gestational age (GA) is a critical period for evaluating brain development, but there is limited knowledge regarding the specific characteristics at this GA. This study is to map the brain structures at 10 weeks' GA by using 9.4T MRI and histologic sections.
Six fetal specimens with normal brain development were imaged by using 9.4T MRI, followed by sectioning and staining. The 3D reconstruction models and quantitative measurements were obtained with Amira software.
Four zones of the laminar organization were identified in T2-weighted MRIs, while 6 zones were delineated in the corresponding histologic sections, demonstrating a strong consistency between the two. The key structures, including the midline structures, choroid plexus, subcortical nuclei, ventricles, brainstem, and cerebellum, were clearly distinguishable with unique characteristics in both MRIs and histologic sections. The 3D visualization model effectively demonstrated the shape, spatial positions, and interrelationships of the early fetal brain structures, and their qualitative measurements were obtained. The lateral ventricles and choroid plexus constituted a substantial proportion, with the lateral ventricles accounting for 43.0% of the cerebral hemisphere and the choroid plexus comprising 41.2% of the lateral ventricles.
At 10 weeks' GA, the fetal brain is in an early developmental stage. The integration of 9.4T T2-weighted MRIs, 3D reconstruction, and histologic sections offers a comprehensive view of the early fetal brain's characteristics, providing valuable insights for clinicians and anatomists.
孕龄（GA）第10周是评估脑发育的关键时期，但关于此孕龄的具体特征的知识有限。本研究旨在通过使用9.4T磁共振成像（MRI）和组织学切片来描绘孕龄10周时的脑结构。
对6例脑发育正常的胎儿标本进行9.4T MRI成像，随后进行切片和染色。使用Amira软件获得三维重建模型和定量测量结果。
在T2加权MRI中识别出4个分层组织区域，而在相应的组织学切片中描绘出6个区域，两者之间显示出很强的一致性。关键结构，包括中线结构、脉络丛、皮质下核、脑室、脑干和小脑，在MRI和组织学切片中均清晰可辨，具有独特特征。三维可视化模型有效地展示了早期胎儿脑结构的形状、空间位置和相互关系，并获得了它们的定性测量结果。侧脑室和脉络丛占相当大的比例，侧脑室占大脑半球的43.0%，脉络丛占侧脑室的41.2%。
在孕龄10周时，胎儿脑处于早期发育阶段。9.4T T2加权MRI、三维重建和组织学切片的结合提供了早期胎儿脑特征的全面视图，为临床医生和解剖学家提供了有价值的见解。
